While Arsenal already had one of the best midfielders in the Premier League with Declan Rice, the Gunners struck a major blow by signing Bruno Guimarães, one of the very best number 8s in the championship, from Newcastle. An arrival estimated at around 85 million euros for a player who will soon be 29 years old, a profile that is nevertheless older than that usually recruited under Mikel Arteta, proof of the importance given to this file by the Spanish technician. This is not the first time that the two parties have crossed paths: Arsenal had already tried their luck 4 years ago, when the Brazilian was still playing at OL, before seeing him move to Newcastle. This time, the interest is mutual, and the London club did not miss the opportunity to complete the deal.
For Newcastle, the loss is twofold: after the departure of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham, the Magpies see another pillar of their midfield slip towards the English title holder. Guimarães had resisted the sirens for a long time, but he ended up letting his club know his wish to join Arsenal, opening the way to negotiations between the two teams. In 4 and a half years spent at St James’ Park, the Brazilian had established himself as one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League, both in defensive engagement and in offensive creation, and has 48 caps with the Seleção, with whom he played in the last two World Cups.
A new reinforcement in the midfield for Mikel Arteta
Arteta absolutely wanted to secure the services of the Brazilian, despite an already ultra-competitive squad in midfield. The Gunners coach first sees it as a way to relieve a breathless Declan Rice, the England international having played 69 matches in all competitions last season and mentioned pain in his hamstrings and back during the World Cup. In addition, Guimarães also brings a complementary profile, capable of getting the ball out cleanly and delivering sharp passes behind the defenses, a register where Arsenal remained too dependent on their right lane, between the breakthroughs of Bukayo Saka and the stalls of Martin Ødegaard. Enough to give Arteta a much wider palette to try to retain the champion title and erase the disillusionment of the Champions League final lost to PSG.
“I feel fantastic. I am grateful for this opportunity. From our very first exchange with (Andrea) Berta and Mikel (Arteta), I was excited. I just felt deep down that I needed a new challenge in my life, and I think becoming an Arsenal player is going to be an exciting challenge. I’m so excited to join you. I will give you my best, I promise. Like I said, I am your warrior, I will never give up. I hope we can create very, very beautiful memories together”Guimarães said in the Gunners press release.
